Australian Ecosystems (AE) provides services in the field of ecological restoration and development and retrofit of sustainable human communities. The maintenance crew work as part of a close knit team of up to 20 staff and specialist sub contractors to complete formal, civil and environmental landscape construction projects, maintenance of remnant bush land and major environmental planting projects.

The Maintenance Crew manager will report directly to the Maintenance Project Manager.

The Maintenance Crew Manager will have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a similar working environment with proven skills and high-quality work in the maintenance of:

Urban stormwater treatment systems

Urban and peri urban bushland reserves

Parks and public open space reserves

We are looking for people who are proactive, fit, energetic, hardworking, reliable and punctual. Our Maintenance crews operate in all areas of Greater Melbourne, Greater Geelong and occasionally in regional Victoria.

This position will be mainly based in the western suburbs of Melbourne and Greater Geelong Area but will also be required to assist in the northern and south east suburbs on occasion. Our operations are managed from our depot in Port Melbourne.

The primary position includes the following duties:-

Take responsibility for all elements of maintenance delivery of sites from PC to FC

Attend site progress/PC/FC/Meetings as required by Maintenance Project Manager

Oversee and perform site works to deliver:

Effective use of a range of weed management techniques including chemical application with Back Pack spray or QuikSpray unit, mechanical removal (brush cutter, slasher, chainsaw, etc), and manual removal

Effective control of weeds in sensitive remnant sites including grassland environments

Safe work practices in accordance with company management system and OH&S regulations

Appropriate care and maintenance of equipment

Correct chemical use in accordance with Maintenance Project Manager instruction, company policy and MSDS/Label

Environmental maintenance outcomes in a variety of locations and Bio-regions

Close cooperation with all other divisions of AE including construction, nursery, consulting and admin

Provide mentoring and on the job training for General Skilled staff

Provide feedback to Maintenance Project Manager on a weekly basis on how they are progressing through the monthly works plan including works completed/problems/resourcing/any other issues requiring attention of the Maintenance Project Manager

Provide feedback to Maintenance Project Manager on the monthly work plan

Provide feedback to Maintenance Project Manager on all aspects of site work such as progress, improvement opportunities and hazards

Other duties that will be required on an occasional basis include:-

Day to day management and co-ordination all aspects of installation of soft landscape construction and ecological restoration of sites

Managing staff crews on-site

Prepare sites thoroughly for planting works including all elements of weed suppression and erosion control

Comprehension of all aspects of landscape drawing sets and specifications and weed control requirements

Set out and manage large planting crews and co-ordinate delivery of plants from AE nursery

Complete construction/planting projects with competency, efficiency within budget and on time

Pest animal control – coordinate a variety of pest animal control techniques

Key Performance Indicators

Successful maintenance of all sites with 95% plant survival rates and minimal weed cover as per contractual requirements

Thorough understanding of budgets and resourcing available for each project

Successful completion of projects on time, within hours allocated to projects and to budget

Duty of care of yourself, team members and equipment

Execution of projects to a high standard of Quality Assurance, OHS and Environmental Management

Effective positive communication with your work team, other divisions and management

Feedback and information regarding site works completed and required to Maintenance Project

Manager in the time frames requested

Submission of all paperwork and reports promptly, punctually and to a high standard within the timeframe set by maintenance project manager

Important qualities for successful execution of the position include

Tertiary qualification in Natural Resource Management or similar

On-site skills that include all of the following – excellent plant identification skills, planting, plant maintenance, weed control and landscape skills and an ability to work in sensitive remnant vegetation